After alternating the location for the first two games, the Nationals gave the reasonable impression that the pattern might continue, so when the gates opened for Saturday’s 4th inning presidents race, Roosevelt took off for the 3rd base line.

After realizing he’d run the wrong way, Teddy slammed on the breaks and reversed course, but by then, he was a distant 4th with no chance to catch George Washington.

Abe Lincoln, however, cut the outfield corner to pass George at the turn, and in a tight 3-way finish, edged out his competition to take the tape.

“Honest” Abe’s history of cheating is well-documented, but presidents race finish line judge Screech once again ignored Abe’s transgression, and awarded the victory to Abe.

The race capped a busy day for Teddy and the rest of the racing presidents.

After completing a rare late night presidents race doubleheader in extra innings last night, the team was up early to participate in this morning’s National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade.

The Washington Nationals racing presidents will appear in today’s National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in DC, accompanied by Nationals mascot Screech. The Parade begins at 10:00am and runs along Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Streets, NW, and will be featured in a live simulcast on ABC 7/ WJLA-TV and NewsChannel 8.

Update: Photo of Teddy warming up on the National Mall by flickr user Kevin Koski

The Washington Nationals racing presidents continued to cement their position as DC icons with an appearance in yesterday’s National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade.

The presidents were decked in their Nationals uniforms and got to ride in style on the back of individual bicycle taxis.

It was a rare opportunity for the racing presidents to appear with the blooming cherry blossoms. Nationals Park, of course, has a much-touted row of cherry blossom trees in the centerfield plaza, but the team has yet to play a regular season game when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. With this year’s home opener scheduled for April 13 and a rainy week in the forecast, it seem likely we’ll have to wait another year to witness that spectacle.

The appearance by George, Tom, Abe, and Teddy came just hours before the first unofficial presidents race of the 2009 Nationals Park season. Last night’s annual preseason game vs. the Baltimore Orioles offered no hints that the presidents race will play out any differently for poor Teddy. He had an early lead, but failed to even finish as George Washington took the tape handily.